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by Gary Yamaguchi
“Archers Helping Archers”
(photos below)
A special archery event was held on June 6,
2009 to welcome Kiley Larrick and Nathan Yamaguchi
to the Arizona family of Junior World Team (JWT) members, and
to help prepare them for international competition. A number
of singles and team matches were arranged at Papago Park
through the Papago FITA Archers club. Matches included senior
members of the club, JOAD shooters, coaches, and former/Senior
World Team members Maggie Huff, Ted Harden, and
Kari Jill Granville. (An effort had been made to
contact all former junior world team members but these were
the ones who could attend.) JOADs who participated included
Sami Lopez, Karissa Yamaguchi, and Jenna
Nelson. No effort was made to separate archers into
compound or recurve categories.
Nathan and Kiley each fought through five
individual, 12-arrow matches and two 12-arrow team matches
before retiring to Rosita’s Mexican Restaurant to eat lunch
and hear experiences shared by the former JWT members. One of
the most well-traveled AZ archers, Lindsay Pian, joined
the group at the restaurant. A good lunch was followed by a
discussion on how to deal with unfamiliar coaches,
international competitors, T-shirt swapping, rules, and the
like. Common threads included:
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Being respectful of coaches and other
archers;
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Avoiding situations that could invite
trouble;
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Personal discipline, including keeping to a
training schedule and getting to bed early;
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Making sure everyone on the USA Team feels
included, and supporting teammates;
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Rules;
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Enjoying every minute!
Bob Pian and Janice Price also
relayed some insights on the upcoming Youth World Championship
venue in Ogden, UT and the way in which parents are separated
from their archers. Ed Votruba, Mike Cullumber, and
Angi Lopez presented gift checks on behalf of the Papago
FITA Archers Club to Kiley and Nathan to have as “fun” funds
during the Junior World tournament.
Postlude:
Kiley and Nathan both won their respective Olympic Round
tournaments at the JOAD Nationals on July 5 in Downington,
PA. JOAD participant Karissa Yamaguchi also won her FITA
event in Downington on July 4. Coincidence? We’d like to
think that this event and the continuing support of the Papago
FITA Archers helped each archer in some small way… GTY
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